Long-time Fort Dodge resident Ed Albright’s grandmother used that phrase often in his childhood. In a small way, it led him to a lifetime love of coin collecting that continues to this day.

“You never know what you’re going to find when you go through a bowl of change at home, change in your car and even a penny you pick up off the ground,” said Albright, who is a deacon at Holy Trinity Church who retired after working 40 years for the United States Postal Service.

“Honestly, the easiest way to get into the science of numismatics (coin collecting) is to get a hold of as many pennies as you can,” he added. “The biggest reason is because they are being taken out of circulation. The older copper ones from 1982 and older and the current copper zinc one cent pieces will go fast among people who are collectors.”

His passion for his hobby is one of many on display the second Wednesday of each month at meetings of the Fort Dodge Coin Club. They start at 6:30 p.m., but, according to Albright, collectors gather at 6 p.m. and check out the collections beforehand.

1805 Liberty dollar

The club’s current membership stands at around 60 plus with ages from fifth grade students to adults in their 80s.

“It’s a family club,” Albright said. “We have grandparents who bring their grandchildren, and I used to bring my daughters, as examples. We want youth to come check it out. It is history on so many levels.”

“Our regular coin auctions are for everyone as minimum bids are allowed,” he added. “We want people to have fun with it.”

As Albright explains, the art of coin collection is just one of the avenues the club is part of. Members also have bank bags, post cards, stamps, paper money, and trade store tokens that members bring for the bi-weekly auctions and other events.

“It’s true that so many different people have different knowledge of areas regarding coin collection,” Albright said.

A selection of nickels minted during World War II

He is just one of many local coin enthusiasts which include club President Terry Cook and Sam and Bev Ashton, who own Fort Dodge Coin & Stamp, among many from the community.

“Through the years we’ve had fellow collectors show off specialty coins such as gold, Civil War, tokens, money, and more,” Albright said. “Those weekly auctions are a big hit, but we also have a yearly auction that brings in collectors and dealers from around the Midwest and potlucks in June and December that include drawings for gold pieces which are a big hit.”

Albright’s path to a current collection that includes rare bust half dollars and the Morgan Silver Dollars got a big start when he was a paper boy of only 10-years-old. He used to stop at a corner market during his route with an attendant who was also into coin collecting, and they would check out whatever pieces they had.

“When I was growing up, 1964 silver coins and dimes ceased, so those were a big treasure,” he said “I also spent 15 years in metal detecting which many of the club members still do. The late Pete Fritz found many valuable items in Oleson Park to add to his remarkable collection.

“I love what I have been able to collect, but many current and former members have even rarer items,” he added. “Before he passed, Pete had so many fascinating things he showed including extremely rare $3 Indian princess coins. Terry has a chain with a $50 gold piece set in it, too. Those are just some of the things you can see if you become a member and get involved.”

A $10 bill featuring President William McKinley

Albright, who admitted he has begun to move into a seller’s mode about what he has, still has that collecting itch, though.

“I was just at First Interstate Bank earlier this week picking up euros for a trip,” he said. “I also got $5 of pennies, so I can go through them on a cold winter’s day and try and find collectibles.”

Sorting through coins when he can and trying to get more local people involved towards a life’s hobby is a goal of Ed Albright and his fellow FDCC members.